Paragould, AR – Contributed – Memphis-based Baptist Memorial Health Care and Arkansas Methodist Medical Center of Paragould, Arkansas, finalized plans to merge on Feb. 28, 2026, increasing Baptist Memorial’s hospitals to 25 and solidifying the organization’s position as one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the United States.

“Completing the merger between Baptist Memorial Health Care and Arkansas Methodist Medical Center opens a new chapter for sustained access to comprehensive health care in East Arkansas and the South. Achieving this milestone allows us to expand Baptist’s mission, vision and commitment to delivering exceptional and affordable health care to this community on a scale that is meaningful for patients,” said Jason LIttle, president and CEO, Baptist Memorial Health Care

The merger, which began with the signing of a shared mission agreement in April 2025, includes a transfer of all AMMC assets, including the 129-bed hospital, 91-bed Chateau on the Ridge Assisted Living facility, and eight medical clinics, to Baptist Memorial Health Care. AMMC has more than 500 employees, who immediately transitioned to Baptist Memorial Health Care.

Melanie Edens, most recently chief operating officer of NEA Baptist, has been selected to lead the hospital as CEO and administrator following the retirement of Brad Bloemer. Bloemer announced his plans to retire in February after serving in the leadership role since July 2023, and Edens moved into the role on March 1.

“I can’t think of a better person than Melanie Edens to lead Arkansas Methodist Medical Center as it transitions to a Baptist Memorial Hospital,” said Little. “She is a dynamic leader with vast knowledge and experience with health care in this region, and she has a special connection to this community. This hospital is where Melanie was born and where she completed her first clinical rotation as a student radiologic technologist in 1996. I have every confidence she’ll accomplish great things for health care in Paragould.”

Edens has more than 27 years of health care experience at NEA Baptist. She began her career with the organization as a student diagnostic CT technologist in 1998 and worked her way up to director of radiology in 2003. She was promoted to associate administrator in 2015 and COO in 2020. She has a bachelor’s degree in radiologic sciences and a master’s degree in business from Arkansas State University.

Baptist Memorial Health Care now has three hospitals in Arkansas — in Crittenden, Craighead and Greene counties. Baptist, which had a net operating revenue of $4.9 billion in fiscal year 2025, most recently successfully completed mergers with OCH Regional Medical Center in Starkville, Mississippi, in 2025; Anderson Regional Health System in Meridian, Mississippi, in 2024; and Mississippi Baptist Health System based in Jackson, Mississippi, in 2017.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region.

Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine.

Baptist employs more than 23,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.